Kerry said, “We remain convinced that the people of Cuba would be best served by a genuine democracy where people are free to choose their leaders.” Cuba remains a communist country. There will still be bumps in the road ahead, including Cuba’s human rights record and America’s economic embargo on Cuba.

Today’s event occurred a month after the U.S. and Cuba formally restored ties and 54 years after ties were severed following Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution and the establishment of the communist government. The intervening years saw several face-offs between the two governments, including the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis.